Gender identity of Rhode Island ice rink shooting suspect was source of past family conflict: Doc

A suspect accused of shooting and killing two people at a Rhode Island ice rink on Monday identified as transgender and had a history of past family conflicts over his gender identity, a local news outlet reported, citing court documents.

Court records show that Robert Dorgan has been involved in several disputes with relatives in recent years, including allegations that tensions escalated after he underwent gender reassignment surgery, according to Wpri.

Dennis M. of Pawtucket during a hockey game between Coventry and Blackstone Valley Schools. Dorgan, 56, is accused of opening fire inside Lynch Arena in what police described as a “family dispute,” Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said at a news conference Monday.

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Authorities said two victims died and the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Three others were injured and are hospitalized.

A federal law enforcement source told Fox News that the gunman killed his wife and shot his three children before turning the gun on himself in what the source described as an incident of domestic violence.

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In 2020, Dorgan reported to North Providence police that he had undergone gender-reassignment surgery and said his father-in-law wanted him out of the family home. Police identified the suspect as Robert Dorgan by birth name and said he also went by “Roberta.”

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According to court documents cited by WPRI, Dorgan alleged that her father-in-law used derogatory terms for transgender people and threatened to retaliate if she did not come out. The father-in-law was charged at the time, though prosecutors later dropped the case.

Court filings show Dorgan’s then-wife initially cited “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” in the divorce paperwork before amending the grounds to “irreconcilable differences.” The divorce was finalized in 2021. Divorce records list Dorgan as living in Jacksonville, Florida and working as a truck driver.

Also in 2020, Dorgan alleged that her mother assaulted her and acted in a “violent, threatening or disruptive manner,” according to police records cited by WPRI. Her mother was charged with simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct, though the case was later dismissed, court records show.

This conflict was also seen in Dorgan’s quarrel with his father-in-law. According to court documents, Dorgan told police that his father-in-law “told me that if I didn’t drop the assault charges against my mother that more retaliation could be expected and that this was another reason for my murder.”

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Police have not said whether those past disputes were connected to Monday’s violence, and investigators have not publicly identified a motive. Goncalves said the shooting “looks like it was a family dispute” and that detectives are still working to establish a timeline.

Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Alexis McAdams and Bonnie Chu contributed to this report.

Original article source: Gender identity of Rhode Island ice rink shooting suspect was source of past family conflict: Doc